RR STATIONS OF PROVIDENCE

The track and station building were completed almost a year before the opening of the Union Station because of a dispute between the city and the railroad. The city had given approval for the station with the stipulation that a "train house" cover all tracks and platforms but the New Haven only erected a shelter over the concourse explaining that it wanted to study needs from actual operations before constructing an elaborate train shed. A train shed was a matter of prestige and all major stations incorporated large sheds although some considered sheds to be dark, dirty and outdated. Prestige was important so the city obtained a court injunction to prevent opening the station until a train shed was built, In this event a train shed was built and the station openened on September 18, 1898.

The east end of the train shed and the express building.

The light lines on the top drawing represent the original shelter.

The train shed was built over it.

The girders are the original shelter over which the larger train shed was built. This is the concourse between the stub-end terminal tracks. The waiting room is to the right.

Number 339 is on one of the four stub-end tracks at the east end of the station with most of the train under the shed. The express building is on the left. The locomotive was built by Manchester in 1885 for the New York, Providence & Boston.

The train shed was extended in 1908 to cover four additional tracks including two that were originally considered freight only. The photo is dated October 22, 1913. The locomotive on the right is a U-1-a class 0-6-0 switcher built by Rhode Island in 1890 for the New York, Providence & Boston. On the left is a C-2 class 4-4-0 built by Rhode Island in 1883 for the New York, Providence & Boston.

The new I-4 Pacific type locomotive Number 1360 built by Schenectady in 1916 heads a New York express train at the west end of the new Union Station, The addition to the train shed destroyed its symmetry.

At the east end of the train shed is D-8 class 1849 which was built by Schenectady in 1888 for the

Meridan, Waterbury & Connecticut.

"The Bay State Limited" at the west end of the train shed.

The postcard showing an Atlantic type locomotive powering the New York train was mailed in 1918.

Providence Public Library Collection

The Comet began service in June 1935 between Providence and Boston. The 44 miles were covered in 44 minutes with a stop at Pawtucket-Central Falls and Back Bay. The photo is c.1941-43 and shows why some people thought train sheds were dark and dreary places.

The two photographs were taken from trains at the west end of the station before and after the Industrial Trust Tower was built in 1927.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN W. BARRIGER III